Gamertell

At his pre-Super Bowl press conference Friday (January 30, 2009) National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell fielded questions on everything from international expansion to revamping the league’s overtime system. One reporter asked about famous broadcaster John Madden, who is celebrating his 30th anniversary as a commentator. Goodell talked about the numerous ways Madden has become an ambassador for the league and even mentioned his now legendary football video game.

“His name is associated with the most popular game of all time in the electronic games world,” Goodell said. “And he’s had a huge influence over millions of who watch our game and play the Electronic Arts game.”

The Madden franchise has been the subject of controversy since locking up exclusive rights to the NFL license Gamertell but no one can dispute the impact it has had on the gaming industry. It’s consistently one of the top-selling games of the year and has created its own culture of big money tournaments. ESPN brought that world into millions of viewers’ homes with its Madden Nation reality series. That show became such a huge hit that the finals now air on ESPN on Super Bowl Sunday.

Gamers across the nation have been known to call in sick the day of the game’s release, a day now christened “Madden Holiday” by the video football faithful. The popular football title has earned a measure of infamy in locker rooms due to the “Madden Curse” that seems to affect the game’s cover athletes. This year Brett Favre, one of John Madden’s favorite players, fell victim to the curse. After a prolonged retirement drama with the Green Bay Packers, Favre signed with the New York Jets and after a strong start both the QB and the team faded down the stretch. Before Favre unretired, it appeared EA had found at least a temporary solution to the “curse” by placing a retired athlete on the cover.

Read [USA Today] Also Read [Game Daily]